The Talking Machine Forum — For All Antique Phonographs & Recordings

Frisco The Beagle wrote:I disassembled the soundbox and the photos tell the story. It is an old Sonora body. The needle bar had been sawn off. The Nipper picture was scraped off the label of one of the records that came with the machine, and then put on a piece of plexiglass, all of which was just stuffed into the Sonora body. No wonder it was soooo quiet. I swear though, there was music when the seller played a record on it.

I was able to get a No. 5B soundbox from a forum member (Thanks George!), received it today and put it on the machine. Wow - it is not quiet any longer, and sounds just great.

Up next is a good cleaning for the motor. Hopefully no more surprises (hamster wheel instead of canned springs?).

If possible, can someone send a photo or two showing some detail of the lid prop/catch for these machines? There is simply a bolt (which does not look correct) as a pivot in this one now, and the construction of the entire thing looks like there should be some other parts. It does not "catch" and hold the lid up very well as it is right now.